Open Heavens 1 January 2017: Sunday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Starting A New Year

Open Heavens 1 January 2017: Sunday daily devotional by Pastor E. A. Adeboye – Starting A New Year

Topic: Starting A New Year [Sunday 1, January 2017]
Memorise: Better is the end of a thing than the beginning thereof: and the patient in spirit is better than the proud in spirit. – Ecclesiastes 7:8
Read: Job 8:5-7 (KJV)
 5 If thou wouldest seek unto God betimes, and make thy supplication to the Almighty;
 6 If thou wert pure and upright; surely now he would awake for thee, and make the habitation of thy righteousness prosperous.
 7 Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.
Bible in One Year: Matthew 1-3, Isaiah 1:1-17
MESSAGE:
 Welcome to this New Year! It is always good to experience something pleasantly new. At the dawn of a new year, hopes are renewed, aspirations are born and expectations are high. But when the ups and downs of life take their toll in the course of the year, many people are not able to sustain the zeal and zest that they started the year with. Does this sound familiar? For some, it appears as if the events they experience in the course of the year are set up to completely dash their hopes. If this has been your experience, it shall be different this time around in the mighty Name of Jesus.
“For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, saith the LORD, thoughts of peace, and not of evil, to give you an expected end.” - Jeremiah 29:11
 As you take in the fresh New Year breeze, know for sure that God has something great in store for you which will unfold in the course of this year. Something huge is coming your way, so let your hope be fixed on the Lord. God wants you to end this year big and great, and to have your heart overflowing with joy. Remember that in the Kingdom of God, the end of a thing is always of greater significance than its beginning. Hence, the Holy Ghost in Job 8:7 said:
 “Though thy beginning was small, yet thy latter end should greatly increase.”
Because some people start a new year with little or nothing, they don’t expect anything great to come their way that year. If you find yourself in such a situation, know that if you settle some key issues in your life, you can be assured of a greater, bigger and glorious year. First, start the year with God (Proverbs 8:17). If you are still living in sin, the greatest way to start this year is by going on your knees, confessing your sins to God, asking for His forgiveness and inviting Jesus Christ to be your captain and pilot from now onwards. Also, you need to cultivate a personal relationship with God by studying the Bible regularly, fellowshipping with other believers in a Bible-believing Church, worshipping God and taking time to pray on daily basis. In addition, daily ask God for direction, wait to receive it, and be sure to follow as He leads. Utilise all opportunities that come your way and give your best to God and His work. If you do all these, I assure you that this year will end very well for you.
Action Point: Thank God for granting you access to this New Year. Let your thanksgiving be a daily offering to God this year.
Open Heavens Daily Devotional guide was written by Pastor E.A. Adeboye, the General Overseer of the Redeemed Christian Church of God, one of the largest evangelical church in the world and also the President of Christ the Redeemer's Ministries.
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